Integrated modular ice axe head

Abstract

An integrated modular ice axe head is disclosed including a first base member fixedly attached to a handle and a second base member, attachable to the first base member, which has an accessory, such as a hammer head or adze formed integrally therewith. Preferably, the two base members form a receiving slot when they are attached to one another for receiving and holding the base of an accessory, such as an ice pick. Because the first and second base members can move toward and away from one another before attachment is completed, the receiving slot is of variable width and facilitates pieces having loose tolerances.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An integrated modular ice axe comprising: an elongate handle;   a first base member fixedly attached to the handle, the base member having first and second ends;   a second base member releasably attached to the first base member, the second base member comprising first and second ends and a tool head disposed so as to extend from the second end, the second base member being configured so that when the second base member is attached to the first base member, the first end of the second base member is disposed adjacent to the first end of the first base member, and the second end of the second base member is disposed adjacent to the second end of the second base member;   attachment means for securely connecting the second base member to the first base member;   at least one off-set portion formed in at least one of the first ends of the first and second base members so as to form a receiving slot when the first and second base members are connected; and   an ice pick disposable within the receiving slot.   
     
     
       2. The integrated modular ice axe of claim 1, wherein the at least one off-set portion comprises an off-set portion disposed at the first end of the first base member. 
     
     
       3. The integrated modular ice axe of claim 2, wherein the at least one off-set portion comprises an off-set portion disposed at the first end of the second base member and positioned so that when the second base member is connected to the first base member, the off-set portion at the first end of the first base member and the off-set portion at the first end of the second base member form the receiving slot for an tool head. 
     
     
       4. The integrated modular ice axe of claim 3, wherein the tool head extending from the second end of the second base member is a hammer head. 
     
     
       5. The integrated modular ice axe of claim 3, wherein the tool head extending from the second end of the second base member is an adze. 
     
     
       6. The integrated modular ice axe of claim 3, further comprising a rib disposed on at least one of the base members so as to extend into the receiving slot. 
     
     
       7. The integrated modular ice axe of claim 1, wherein the tool head comprises a hammer head. 
     
     
       8. The integrated modular ice axe of claim 7, wherein the second base member and the hammer head are formed from a single piece of metal. 
     
     
       9. The integrated modular ice axe of claim 1, wherein the tool head comprises an adze having a triangular cutting member and the second base member includes an arm for attaching the cutting member to the second end of the second base member. 
     
     
       10. The integrated modular ice axe of claim 9, wherein the arm for attaching the cutting member to the second end of the second base member and the second base member are formed of a single piece of metal. 
     
     
       11. The integrated modular ice axe of claim 1, wherein the second base member has an off-set portion formed at the first end thereof. 
     
     
       12. The integrated modular ice axe of claim 11, wherein the first base member has an off-set portion formed at the first end thereof and disposed so as to be positioned adjacent the off-set portion of the second base member when the first and second base members are attached to one another. 
     
     
       13. The integrated modular ice axe head of claim 1, wherein the first and second base members each have a hole formed therein adjacent respective first ends and adjacent respective second ends and disposed such that when the first and second base members are disposed adjacent each other to form the receiving slot, each hole in the first base member is aligned with a hole in the second base member. 
     
     
       14. The integrated modular ice axe of claim 13, wherein the attachment means comprises a plurality of bolts disposable through said plurality of holes. 
     
     
       15. The integrated modular ice axe of claim 13, wherein the holes formed adjacent the first end of the first and second base members form a means for attaching the ice pick to the first and second base members. 
     
     
       16. An integrated modular tool comprising: an elongate handle;   a first base member fixedly attached to the handle, the base member having first and second ends, an off-set portion being disposed in the first end;   a second base member releasably attachable to the first base member, the second base member comprising first and second ends within off-set portion formed in the first end such that when the first and second base members are attached to one another, the off-set portions in the first and second base members form a receiving slot for releasably receiving a tool head;   a hammer head formed integrally with the second base member at the second end; and   an attachment means for selectively holding the second base member to the first base member.   
     
     
       17. An integrated modular ice axe comprising; an elongate handle;   a first base member fixedly attached to the handle, the base member having first and second ends, an off-set portion being disposed in the first end;   a second base member releasably attachable to the first base member, the second base member comprising first and second ends with an off-set portion formed in the first end such that when the first and second base members are attached to one another, the off-sets in the first and second base members form a receiving slot;   an adze head formed integrally with the second base member at the second end of said second base member;   an attachment means for selectively holding the second base member to the first base member; and   an ice pick disposable within the receiving slot.   
     
     
       18. A method for forming an integrated modular ice axe comprising: a) selecting a handle having a first base member with an off-set portion formed in one end of the base member fixedly attached thereto;   b) selecting a second base member which is attachable to the first base member and which has a tool head selected from the group consisting of a hammer head, an adze and an ice pick formed integrally therewith;   c) attaching the second base member to the first base member so as to form a receiving slot between the first and second base members to enable releasable attachment of a tool head while the first and second base members remain attached; and   d) selecting a tool head for disposition in the slot, the tool head being selected from the group consisting of a hammer head, an adze and an ice pick.   
     
     
       19. The method of claim 18, wherein step (a) comprises, more specifically, selecting a handle having a first base member with first and second ends fixedly attached thereto, the first base member having an off-set portion formed at the first end thereof. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 19, wherein step (b) comprises, more specifically, selecting a second base member having an adze formed integrally therewith, and step comprises as selecting a tool head which is an ice pick. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 18, wherein step (b) comprises, more specifically, selecting a second base member having first and second ends and an off-set portion positioned in the first end. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 21, wherein step (c) comprises, more specifically, attaching the second base member to the first base member so as to form a receiving slot between the first and second base members. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 18, wherein step (b) comprises, more specifically, selecting a second base member having a hammer head formed integrally therewith, and step (d) comprised as selecting a tool head which is an ice pick. 
     
     
       24. An integrated modular tool comprising; an elongate handle;   a first base member fixedly attached to the handle, the base member having first and second ends;   a second base member releasably attachable to the first base member, the second base member comprising first and second ends and a tool head disposed so as to extend from the second end, the first and second ends of the second base member being alignable with the first and second ends of the first base member;   attachment means for securely connecting the second base member to the first base member; and   at least one off-set portion formed in at least one of the first ends of the first and second base members so as to form a hollow receiving slot when the first and second base members are connected, the receiving slot being formed between the first end of the first base member and the first end of the second base member, and configured for releasably receiving a second tool head while the first and second base members are attached.   
     
     
       25. An integrated modular ice axe head, comprising: a first base member fixedly mountable to a handle, the base member having a first end and a second end;   a second base member releasably attached to the first base member and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second base member being disposed proximate to the first end of the first base member and forming a receiving slot there between;   a tool head integrated with and extending from the second end of the second base member; and   an ice pick disposable in the receiving slot.